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If it feels as though you've gotten a million spam robocalls, you're not alone. In fact, last year Ohioans received 1.9 billion robocalls. Lawmakers have done their best to change that, with a law that goes into effect in March, which criminalizes "spoofing" (when scammers buy phone numbers from third-parties in the U.S. to use local area codes for their calls, making it more likely those receiving the calls will pick up).
"(Scammers) are finding more ways to get creative to trick people," state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, told The Columbus Dispatch. "This legislation makes Ohio the hardest state in the country to conduct a robocall scheme."
The new law also increases penalties for telecommunications fraud and criminalizes the use of Internet text messages and calls for such scams. And it gives state Attorney General Dave Yost more power to bring scammers to court at the state level.
Good. But we all know the kinds of people behind these schemes are often one step ahead of the law. That means it is still important not to answer calls from unknown numbers; never to give out Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card information over the phone; trust your instincts and avoid falling for offers that sound too good to be true; register your number with the Federal Communications Commission's National Do Not Call Registry; and install apps on your phone that can help block or identify potential scam calls.
Remember, generally speaking, banks, the Internal Revenue Service and other legitimate entities do not pressure you into making quick decisions, call or text from unknown phone numbers or ask for personal information over the phone. Trust your gut and remain on guard.
Ohio's new law should make some headway in the fight against scammers, but the threat remains.